Not every shiny material is a metal, and not every reaction between two metals happens equally easily — the reactivity series predicts exactly which metal will win.
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Metals and non-metals differ in how they look, how they bend, and how they conduct — but a few elements break the pattern.
📊 Typical properties
| Property | Metals | Non-metals |
|---|---|---|
| Lustre | Shiny when freshly cut | Usually dull (except iodine, graphite) |
| Malleability/ductility | Can be beaten into sheets or drawn into wires | Brittle — break when hammered |
| Conduction | Good conductors of heat and electricity | Poor conductors (except graphite) |
| Sonorous | Produce a ringing sound when struck | Do not produce a ringing sound |
The exceptions to remember: mercury is a metal that is liquid at room temperature. Graphite (a form of carbon, a non-metal) conducts electricity. Iodine, a non-metal, has a lustre.
A more reactive metal will always push a less reactive metal out of its compound — this is called a displacement reaction.
📌 The reactivity series (most to least reactive)
Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Aluminium — react vigorously, even with cold water (K, Na) or steam (Mg, Al).
Zinc, Iron, Lead — react with acids but not with cold water.
Copper, Silver, Gold — very unreactive; gold barely reacts with anything, which is why it never tarnishes.
Displacement trap: Iron nail placed in copper sulphate solution turns the solution pale green — iron (more reactive) displaces copper. But a copper wire placed in iron sulphate solution shows NO reaction, because copper is less reactive than iron.
Polymers are everywhere — Achievers questions ask you to connect a material's structure to its everyday use.
✨ Natural vs synthetic polymers
Natural polymer
made by living things
Cotton (cellulose), silk, wool (protein)
Synthetic polymer
made in a factory
Polythene, nylon, PVC
Pro tip: Nylon is strong and elastic, which is exactly why it is used for parachutes and ropes — not decoration. A material's property always explains its specific use.
12 NSO-pattern questions on metals, non-metals and materials, including two Achievers-level questions.
